Egypt urges Gaza mediators to revive truce plan

Israel‑Egypt Pact Seeks 60‑Day Gaza Truce

The civil‑defence agency reports Israel has ramped attacks on Gaza City, prompting Egypt to intensify diplomatic work with Qatar and the United States. The goal: a 60‑day ceasefire, hostage release, and unrestricted humanitarian aid.

Egyptian Diplomatic Effort

• Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty announced Cairo the coalition was “working hard” and asked for a 60‑day ceasefire with hostages, detainees, and medical aid.
• Egypt is hosting a senior Hamas delegation led by chief negotiator Khalil al‑Hayya for talks on Wednesday.
• Qatar, Egypt and the United States have been attempting a comprehensive ceasefire proposal, but negotiations stalled after July’s breakdown.

Israel’s Escalated Air Strikes

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration has not set a timetable for ground forces in Gaza City, but the civil‑defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal said the bombardment has increased over the past three days.

• Neighborhoods of Zeitun and Sabra have been hit with “very heavy air strikes targeting civilian homes.”
• Bassal noted the use of “bombs, drones, and highly explosive munitions” causing massive destruction.
• Israeli strikes across Gaza killed at least 33 people on Tuesday.
• Residents report shattered homes and martyrs buried under rubble. An Israeli air raid on Sunday killed five Al Jazeera employees and a freelance reporter outside a Gaza City hospital.

War‑Related Humanitarian Impact

• Israel has sharply curtailed the amount of humanitarian aid allowed into Gaza, raising fears of widespread famine.
• UN experts warn that if the war continues, basic necessities could run out.
• Netanyahu faces pressure to secure the release of 49 hostages, 27 of whom are deemed dead by the Israeli military.

Conflict Toll

According to official Afghan figures, Hamas’s October 2023 attack caused 1,219 deaths. Israeli offensive reports at least 61,599 Palestinian casualties in the Hamas‑run Gaza health ministry, a figure considered reliable by the United Nations.